>>>>Spondylus is in a similar situation to Angaria. Very variable shells.
>>>>Few species. Lots of synonyms. Don't ask me which Spondylus species
>>>>are synonyms of which, though... Angaria is perhaps easier, with only
>>>>3 living species (delphinus, sphaerula & possibly javanicus).
>
>How about aculeata, melanacantha, tyria, rugosa, neglecta, nodosa?
>I've never heard of javanicus.
>
>John

Hi John

Those 5 names are all synonyms of A. delphinus. Looking at any of
these and comparingg them with an "average" (ain't no such thing!)
specimens of A. delphinus, you can easily convince yoursself that
they are different spp. But when you have a bunch of specimens the
"distinctions" blur utterly. There is nowhere that you can draw a
line between any of these "forms".

A. javanicus was described by Monsecour & Monsecour 1999 appears to
be a real species, though I have only seen a very few specimens
(hence my uncertainty). It has a low but conical spire, well-spaced
axial folds on the broad shoulder, short slightly depressed
peripheral spines, neat rows of small subperipheral and basal spines,
a small aperture, narrow umbilicus. It is olive-brown to mauve-tan.

If anyone sees intergrades between A. javanicus and any other
Angaria, I'd be interested to hear and perhaps to see images.
--
Regards
Andrew

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